Aerial bicycle.



No. 823,100. PATENTED JUNE 12, 1906.

' F. G. BONFILS.

AERIAL BICYCLE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.29,1904.

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FREDERICK o. BONFILS,

OF DENVER, COLORADO.

AERIAL BICYCLE.

Application filed April 29,

- .FILS, a citizen of the United States of Amer- 10a, residing in thecity and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Aerial Bicycles; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bicycles provided with wing-likeor air-plane attachments, whereby the bicycle after getting aconsiderable start down an incline, for instance, may sail through theaira considerable distance before again striking the track, it beingassumed that there is a gap in the track to permit the machine to make ajump through space. The wings or air planes, which project outwardly onopposite sides of the bicycle-frame, enable the machine to take a longerflight than could be accomplished in their absence. To the rearextremity of the frame of the bicycle and centrally located is arevolving wind-wheel which has a tendency to steer the machine duringits flight through the air and also adds to the novelty of itsappearance. In looping the loop on a bicycle the trackmay be cut away atthe top whereby an ordinary bicycle jumps through space and again landson the track. This feat is now accomplished by a rider on an ordinarybicycle. t is believed that a machine of the character shown in thedrawings and hereinafter explained may be made to jump or pass through agreater space than can be accomplished on a wheel not so equipped. It isfurther believed that my improved machine will be found capable of usein the performance of many feats not heretofore accomplished on amachine of ordinary construction or unquipped with my improvements.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, as well as thefunction it is intended to perform, I will proceed to describe the samein detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in whichis illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a bicycle equipped withmy improve- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1906. 1904. Serial No. 205,638-

ments. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the same without the rudder orsteering device. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the rudder or steeringdevice.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the'views.

Let A designate a bicycle of ordinary construction. To the upper part ofthe framework of this machine are attached two horizontal bars,(designated B andC,respectively.) These bars extend a suitable distanceon opposite sides of the vertical plane of the bicycle and terminate inballs or enlargements B and 0, there being a ball C and a ball B on eachside of the bicycle. With these balls are connected the wings D of themachine, which are composed of a suitable comparacovering of canvas orother suitable material. As shown in the drawings, these wings arecomposed of parallel longitudinal bars D, located on opposite sides ofthe machine, hav ing their extremities connected with the balls B and C,respectively. Also connected with these balls are front and rear ribs Douter ribs D D D and D and transverse ribs D D and D The canvas coveringD is attached to the ribs. In this manner wings or air planes of anydesired area may be connected with the opposite sides of the bicycle.

The rearwardly-located bar 0 is journaled in bearings E, mounted on aframe F, con1 posed of two side bars F, each of which is provided withan upright part F at its forward extremity, upon which the bearings Eare mounted. This frame F is also connected at its forward extremitywith the rear frame-bar G of the bicycle by means of a clasp F which isconnected with two short bars F (Indicated by dotted lines in Fig, 2.)The rear extremities of the parts F are connected as shown at F Thisframe F-is further supported by an auxiliary frame or brace H, composedof parallel side barsII, whose forward extremities are connected withthe main frame, as shown at H and whose rear extremities are connectedby a part II". The members of the brace H are connected with the frame Fon each side, as shown at H A wind-wheel I is connected with a shaft J,the latter being journaled in the parts H and F As the machine passesalong the resistance of the atmosphere will cause the wind- 1 wheel torevolve, thus forming a sort of steertively light frame work to which isattached a ing device for the machine, which by its rapid motion tendsto steady the bicycle and prevent it from swerving from its course.

The front transverse bar B is connected with a head G of the bicycle bymeans of a link K. This link is connected with a clamp K by means ofabolt K ,which passes through an opening in the end of the link and alsobetween registering openings in the clamp K. The opposite extremity ofthe link K is con nected with a transverse bar B by means of a bearing Kin which the bar B is loose. By loosening the nut on the bolt K theforward extremities of the wings may be raised and lowered at pleasure,after which the nut may be tightened and the wings secured in anydesired position of adjustment. As the forward extremities of the wingsare raised and lowered the bar C, which is rigidly connected with thewings, turns in the bearings E.

' From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improvedaerial bicycle will be readily understood. The rider sits upon themachine the same as upon an ordinary bicycle, there being sufiicientroom between the frame-bars D for the legs of the rider to passdownwardly to the pedals and to give perfect freedom of movement for thepurpose of operating the machine. The machine will run as the ordinarybicycle until the gap or break in the track is reached, when it willsail through the air by virtue of the wings or air planes on oppositesides and assisted by the wind-wheel connected with its rear extremity,as heretofore described.

Under some circumstances it may be advisable to use a rudder or steeringdevice detachably connected with the handle-bar of the bicycle, as shownin Fig. 1. As shown in the drawings, this rudder consists of anupwardly-extending post L, to whch is connected a frame composed of ribsL and L forming a support for the canvas covering L The lower extremityof the post L is slotted and adapted to enter a clamp M, in which it maybe secured by the employment of a fastening device, as a bolt M. Thisrudder or steering device may be set at different angles, according tothe direction of the wind, and by the use of it the rider may be able tosteer the bicycle in a direct path under circumstances which would makesuch steering otherwise diflicult.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combinationwith a bicycle-frame, of bars located on opposite sides of saidbicycle-frame, and wings or air planes carried by said bars,substantially as described.

2. The combination with a bicycle-frame, of adjustable bars located onopposite sides of said bicycle-frame and wings or air planes carried bysaid bars, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a bicycle-frame, of bars located on oppositesides thereof, said bars being pivoted at one end to said frame. andwings or air planes carried by said bars, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a bicycle-frame of parallel bars located onopposite sides thereof, a transverse bar journaled to said frame andconnected at its ends to said parallel bars and wings or air planescarried by said parallel bars, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a bicycle-frame, of two transverse barsprojecting on opposite sides of the frame, the rear bar being journaledin a suitable support, and an adjustable supporting device for theforward transverse bar whereby the forward bar may be raised and loweredat will, and wings or air planes connected with the extremities of thebars and located on opposlte sides of the machine.

6. The combination with a bicycle, of wings or air planes attached tothe opposite sides of the framework of the machine, and a rudder orsteering device detachably connected with the handle-bar above the planeof said wings and consisting of a frame provided with a suitablecovering, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a bicycle-frame and wings or air planes securedto the opposite sides of said frame, of a post secured to thesteering-head of said frame and a vertically-extending wing or ruddercarried by said post, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a bicycle and wings or air planes securedthereto, of a rudder consisting of a post in alinement with thesteering-head of said bicycle, a vertically-extending wing carried bysaid post and a clamp for securing said post to the handle-bars of saidbicycle, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a bicycle-frame, of a rectangular frame mountedthereon, wings or air planes carried by said rectangular frame, asupporting-frame mounted on the rear of said bicycle-frame, bearingscarried by said supporting-frame and adapted to receive one end of saidrectangular frame, and a wind-wheel rotatably mounted in saidsupporting'frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK G. BONFILS.

Witnesses:

DENA NELsoN, A. J. OBRIEN.

